Lingering Over Ice

The headline read "A messy morning commute thawed by morning sun." It iced overnight in Austin. Chris and I lay in bed listening to the frozen pellets of rain tap on the house, the grill sitting outside our window, the grass. We talked. It was late. I knew it would almost be gone by morning, and I was enjoying the rare symphony.


At 8 am baby is awake. We enjoy our morning routine of nursing and getting Daddy ready for work. Having forgotten the icy orchestra of the night before, and forgetting for the umpteenth time that we no longer park in the garage for the time being, we head out to the driveway, bundled. The morning is warming the earth as the hours tick forward. Everywhere water is dripping from rooftops and treelimbs. And, as we get into the car, we realize, the gentle frozen shower that cozied our midnight conversation, has left a thick layer of visual impairment on our windshield.

At first, Chris looks for an ice scraper. It is lost amongst the boxes, the moving day that looms. He tries a small shovel, a razorblade. We are truly Texan. Get some warm water, I suggest. Yes, he is headed that way. He returns, hot water creating a mini hotspring steamshower on this cold morning. I remember Costa Rica, remember Tabacon. The water gently melts away all that skews our line of vision. Not only that, it cleans the glass that had been neglected for months. Suddenly, all is very clear, and the day is bright, even if the cold from the night still lingers. The sun is fighting to win.


On my way home from the morning commute to Chris's work, I am thinking still about the ice, the car barely warmed from the 10 minute drive. Lord, show me how I can see you in this. And, it is clear. HE shows me how our hearts, often iced over from the wintery storms of life can skew our vision. How fear, anger, resentment, jealousy, malice, can form a thick layer of frozenness in our lives. We take tools, instruments such as shopping, drinking, socializing, busying ourselves with anything and everything to try to scrape it all off. We try in vein to remove the blinder, so we can see to go on, to keep going as we normally do. We forget that we are now parked in a new place, in HIS kingdom. We forget that we must do things differently when the ice comes. We must warm our hearts in HIS Word before setting out for the day or else risk crashing. And, when we fail to warm ourselves properly so that the ice can melt away, HIS mercy steps in and pours warming waters of life on us so that we might continue on and give HIM glory for the blue skies, the sunshine that warms our face, even as the gusty arctic air of trouble threatens to freeze us once again. Indeed it is a messy morning commute, thawed by HIS morning sun.


Thank you, Jesus, for warming my frozen heart. Thank you for melting my fears, my anxiety, my troubles. Help me remember to warm myself up with You before setting out for the day.

Photos courtesy: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

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14 months..going on 2

Could it be? Are you really 14 months? Most people say you look more like an 18-month old. You often think you're much older. I can tell you'd like to do all the things 2 and 3 year olds can do. You try...boy do you try. You are climbing, climbing, climbing these days. Up and OVER the couch. You even thought to make a step stool out of mommy's plastic drawer in the bathroom. Boy did you have fun grabbing everything you could off the countertop! I just know I'll come in one day and you'll be on top of the refridgerator! You already climbed into the bathroom cabinet, where I found you crouching like a cat. I laughed and laughed that you could manage to get into such a small space.

And, then, you're words are beginning to come more easily now. You are working so hard to communicate, and I know you get really frustrated at times. But, it will come, and you'll have lots to say and ask, I just know it! Mommy and Daddy can't wait to hear what you'll say next. You also love your books. You read and read to yourself. And doggies! You love to bark like a doggy. :)

We'll be moving soon. And, I can't wait to show you your new room and all the new space you'll have to play in. Mommy plans to create a special play area just for you. I hope you really like it. Once this move is done, we'll have much more time to go to the park and go on outings with your friends. I know how much you love to be outside!

Oh yes, and for your 14-month mark, Daddy decided to give you your first haircut....Mommy cried when she found out! But you're as handsome as ever! Love you sweet boy.

New Words, New Seat, New Year

In the new year Kameen already has several firsts. In addition to "Dada", "uh-oh", "nak" (his way of saying snack), and "aight" (alright), he is now singing "e-i-e-i-o" to the familiar tune of Old McDonald. It's just about the cutest thing I've ever heard! He practices it over and over. Sometimes we just get "e-i", and sometimes we get "e-i-o", and every once in awhile we get the whole shebang.

Today, we bought him his first (and only) front-facing carseat! Yep, he made it in his oversized, Graco Safeseat for 13 1/2 months. He is a little overdue for the new one, but not by much. I'm so excited to see his reaction when he views the world as it comes and not as it goes (his first ride in it will be tomorrow). It seems like a super comfy seat too. I hope he likes it!

Lastly, and not so fun, Kameen is cutting 2 (more) teeth. This child has to be breaking a record for teething. He's got all eight incisors (that was at 5 months), all four first molars, two upper cuspids (canines), and is cutting the two bottom cuspids (canines)! Here's a visual:

This basically leaves the second molars, which he shouldn't get until sometime between 23 and 33 months. At this rate, he'll probably have them by 18 months! Well, at least we're getting this very unpleasant process out of the way early so we can move on to bigger and better things....like steak!

Favorite Holiday Recipes

I promised to post my favorite recipes that I made for Christmas. So, here it goes. I was really into peppermint this year. :)

Peppermint Bark - recipe courtesy Food Network (some variations)



Crushed candy canes, to yield 1 cup
2 pounds white chocolate (try Ghirardelli White Chocolate Chips)
Peppermint flavorings, optional

Place candy canes in a plastic bag and hammer into 1/4-inch chunks or smaller. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler (or try the microwave). Combine candy cane chunks with chocolate (add peppermint flavoring at this point if desired.) Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet layered with parchment or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm. Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces (like peanut brittle.)

Peppermint Ice Cream - recipe courtesy Cooking Light (some variations)

1 1/4 cups 1% reduced-fat milk
2 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 (14-ounce) can lowfat sweetened condensed milk
1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
2/3 cup crushed peppermint candies (about 25 candies)

Combine 1% milk and egg yolks in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Cook until mixture is slightly thick and coats the back of a spoon (about 8 minutes), stirring constantly (do not boil). Cool egg mixture slightly.

Combine egg mixture, whipping cream, extracts, and condensed milk in a large bowl. Cover and chill completely. Stir in crushed candies. Pour mixture into the freezer can of an ice-cream freezer; freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. Spoon the ice cream into a freezer-safe container; cover and freeze 1 hour or until firm.

Cranberry Upside-Down Cake with Cognac Cream - recipe courtesy Cooking Light (some variations)

2 tablespoons butter, melted
Cooking spray
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 (12-ounce) package fresh cranberries
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons butter, softened
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup lowfat milk
2 large egg whites
1 cup whipping cream, whipped (see recipe below)
1 tablespoon cognac

Preheat oven to 350°. Pour melted butter into an 8-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake at 350° for 2 minutes. Remove from oven, and top with pecans and cranberries.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with knife. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; stir with whisk.

Place sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla.

Add flour mixture and milk alternately to butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix after each addition. Beat the egg whites with a mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form using clean, dry beaters; fold into batter. Spread batter over cranberries.

Bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Cool in pan for 5 minutes on a wire rack. Loosen edges of cake with a sharp knife. Place a plate upside down on top of cake pan; invert onto plate. Combine whipped cream and cognac, and serve with warm cake.

Homemade Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon confectioner's sugar

In a chilled mixer bowl whip cream using a wire whisk until stiff peaks begin to form (don't overwhip). Beat in sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Keeps for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.

Wow! I didn't realize they would all be dessert recipes! Oh well, what are holidays for? Enjoy!